Parliamentary by-elections begins in Myanmar

YANGON - A multi-party parliamentary by-elections began across Myanmar Sunday morning at 6 am local time with over 6.4 million eligible voters of 45 constituencies starting to go to polls and cast votes at respective polling booths.

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A woman votes at a ballot station during by-elections in Yangon April 1, 2012.?[Photo/Agencies]

A total of 157 candidates, representing 17 political parties and 7 individuals, are standing for the by-elections for 45 vacant seats of parliamentary representatives scattered in 45 township constituencies in 9 regions or states.

In Yangon region, over 1 million eligible voters from six township constituencies started to go to poll and cast votes as scheduled. ?

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A woman votes at a ballot station during by-elections in Yangon April 1, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]?

The face of the city appeared calm in early morning with lesser traffic moving about and some shops being kept open.

In Yangon's six township constituencies, scattered as Kawhmu, Thonkwa, Dagon Seikkan, Mingala Taungnyunt, Hlegu and Mayangon, a total of six parties will contest for six vacant seats of House of Representatives.

The ruling Union Solidarity and Development Party (USDP) and the National League for Democracy (NLD) constitute as the two main contestants as the two parties run all six constituencies in the Yangon region.

Other parties go to National Unity Party (NUP) with two constituencies, National Democratic Force (NDF) with three constituencies, Unity and Peace Party (UPP) with one constituency and New National Democracy Party (NNDP) with three constituencies.